Farmingdale State College will host its annual Give Kids a Smile event on Friday, February 3, from noon to 4:30 p.m. Children ages 1 – 17 and their parents are invited to visit Farmingdale's Dental Hygiene Care Center, in Gleeson Hall, to receive free oral screenings, dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and oral health education, provided by faculty and students from Farmingdale's dental hygiene department.
A speech pathologist will be on hand, and students from the college's nursing program will conduct blood pressure screenings for parents. Students and faculty from the medical laboratory technology department will demonstrate proper hand-washing techniques.
Give Kids a Smile event is free, but appointments are required. Call 934-420-2282 weekdays between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., through January 30.
Give Kids a Smile event, sponsored nationally by the American Dental Association, was developed to provide children with access to a wide range of dental services. Approximately 200 children, parents, and volunteers are expected to attend. Local sponsors include Henry Schein, Colgate, and Dexis. Ronald McDonald will attend to bring smiles to the children's faces.
In addition to welcoming the children to the Dental Health Care Center, Farmingdale students and faculty will provide free screenings at events at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on March 24th in Garden City and at the Atlantis Aquarium on February 4th. The Nassau County Dental Society and the Suffolk County Dental Society host these events
The Dental Hygiene program at Farmingdale State College is part of the Theresa Patnode Santmann School of Health Sciences, which enrolls almost 700 students. The department offers both the Associate in Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in dental hygiene. The on-campus Dental Hygiene Care Center provides patients with comprehensive care. All treatment provided at the center is supervised by registered dental hygienists and dentists employed by Farmingdale State College
